Project BLACK MAMBA: Allhallowtide

'Tis the Solemnity of All Saints: All Saints-link ūnus, All Saints-link duo, Wikipedia-link All Hallows, & Wikipedia-link Allhallowtide.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. 'Tis a holy day of obligation; get thyself to Mass!

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

This is a Christian festival celebrated in honour (sic) of all the saints, known & unknown.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

On the feast of All Saints we honor those men & women who—whether they've been canonized or not—have led lives of heroic virtue that set an example for all Christians. The meaning of the feast is summarized in a sermon by St. Bernard: "If we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning. Calling the saints to mind inspires us, or rather arouses us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company so desirable in itself… In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints."

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Solemnity of All Saints
The Book of Revelation, chapter seven, verses two, three, four, & nine thru fourteen;
Psalm Twenty-four, verses one(b/c) & two, three & four(a/b), & five & six;
The First Letter to John, chapter three, verses one, two, & three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses one thru twelve(a).

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today in the Beatitudes we hear a series of paradoxes, surprises, reversals. A topsy-turvy universe is being set aright. Let me propose a key for translating these Beatitudes. The word found in all of them is makarios, rendered "blessed" or "happy" or perhaps even "lucky."

"Blessed are the poor in spirit...." How lucky you are if you are not addicted to material things. Here Jesus is telling us… how to realize our deepest desire, which is the desire for God.

"Blessed are they who mourn...." We might interpret it this way: "How lucky are you if you are not addicted to good feelings." Doing the will of God sometimes involves the acceptance of enormous pain.

"Blessed are the meek...." One of the greatest seductions the world holds out to us is power. But what I ought to do is eschew worldly power, so that the power of the will of God might reign in me.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bible Study—Proverbs in a Month & a Psalm a Day
The Book of Psalms, Psalm One (verses one thru six);
The Book of Proverbs, chapter one (verses one thru thirty-three).

Commentary: Quoth my Bible's introduction to the Book of Psalms:

It has been rightly said that the psalms are "a school of prayer." They not only provide us with models to follow, but inspire us to voice our own deepest feelings & aspirations.

First Book—Psalms 1-41: True Happiness in God's Law (Psalm 1); I: Introduction: The Value of Wisdom: Purpose of the Proverbs of Solomon (Proverbs, 1:1-7), the Path of the Wicked: Greed & Violence (1:8-19), & Wisdom in Person Gives Warning (1:20-33).

A Humble Contribution to the New Evangelization
The Popish Plot—Wacky Wednesday: "All the Saints"